Release Detail

April 6, 2006 - Casey Leads Santorum By 11% In Pennsylvania,
Quinnipiac University Poll Finds;
Few Dems Would Drop Casey Because He Is Pro-Life

Pennsylvania incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum has inched up slightly against
Democratic State Treasurer Robert Casey Jr. and now trails the challenger 48 - 37 percent in his
reelection battle, with 12 percent undecided, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released
today.

This compares to a 51 - 36 percent Casey lead in a February 13 poll by the independent
Quinnipiac (KWIN uh-pe-ack) University.

But among Democrats, Casey gets 63 percent, with 5 percent for Sandals and 4 percent for
Pennacchio. Another 25 percent are undecided.

"Sen. Rick Santorum has narrowed the gap a little, but State Treasurer Robert Casey still
holds a comfortable double-digit lead in the general election. Casey overwhelms two largely
unknown candidates in the Democratic primary," said Clay F. Richards, assistant director of the
Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

Only 23 percent of Pennsylvania voters know that Casey is pro-life, while 8 percent think
he is pro-choice and 69 percent don't know Casey's position on abortion.

And only 15 percent of voters say they would vote against a candidate based only on his
position on abortion. Of that group, two-thirds are staunchly anti-abortion, while one third, or 5
percent of the total electorate, say they are staunchly pro-choice.

Among Democrats who identify as pro-choice and who initially expressed support for
Casey, only 9 percent say they are "very likely" to shift their support to a pro-choice Democrat in
a primary.

"The most surprising thing about this poll is that two-thirds of the voters say they don't
know how Bob Casey Jr. stands on the issue of abortion. But given that, only five percent of the
voters say they would definitely vote against a candidate just because he opposed abortion,"
Richards said.

"With Casey holding double digit leads, this is an indication that his stand against abortion
is not having a major impact in either the Democratic primary or the general election."

Pennsylvania voters disapprove 60 - 35 percent of the job President Bush is doing overall
and disapprove 62 - 35 percent of his handling of the situation in Iraq. Going to war in Iraq was
the wrong thing to do, voters say 55 - 39 percent.

Looking at the situation in Iraq:

12 percent of voters say increase U.S. troop levels;

23 percent say keep current troop levels;

31 percent say decrease troop levels;

28 percent say remove all troops.

From March 28 - April 3, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,354 Pennsylvania voters with
a margin of error of +/- 2.7 percentage points. The survey includes 565 Democrats with a margin
of error of +/- 4.1 percentage points.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion
surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida and the nation as a public
service and for research.

For additional data-www.quinnipiac.edu and quicklinks

3. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Arlen Specter is handling his job as
United States Senator?

18. (If registered democrat) If the 2006 Democratic primary for United States
Senator were being held today and the candidates were Bob Casey Jr., Chuck
Pennacchio, and Alan Sandals for whom would you vote?

20. If a political candidate were to take a stand on abortion that was different
from your own, would you vote against that candidate on the basis of that issue
alone, or would you consider other things before deciding who to vote for?

22. (Pro-choice registered democrat, Casey primary voter(q18-1 & q19-1 or 2)
In the Democratic primary for United States Senator you said you are supporting
Casey but on the issue of abortion he is pro-life while the other candidates on
the ballot, Chuck Penacchio and Alan Sandals, are pro-choice. How likely is it
that you would change your vote in the Democratic primary for United States
Senator because of Casey's position on abortion? Very likely, somewhat likely,
not too likely, or not likely at all?

33. From what you have seen or heard about the situation in Iraq, what should
the United States do? Should the U.S. --
a) increase the number of U.S. troops in Iraq,
b) keep the same number of U.S. troops in Iraq as there are now,
c) decrease the number of U.S. troops in Iraq, or
d) remove all its troops from Iraq?